Rating: 
Summary: Right on!
Review: I bought this for my brother-in-law who considers himself a computer geek. He said the book described him perfectly and thought it would be helpful for anyone having to lead this type of person. I thought he'd enjoy it because his job requires he have technical expertise as well as managerial skills. NPR's positive review of the book gave me the idea of buying it for him.
Rating:
Summary: Right on!
Review: I bought this for my brother-in-law who considers himself a computer geek. He said the book described him perfectly and thought it would be helpful for anyone having to lead this type of person. I thought he'd enjoy it because his job requires he have technical expertise as well as managerial skills. NPR's positive review of the book gave me the idea of buying it for him.
Rating: 
Summary: Lack of Substance
Review: I feel that I have been a "geek" for the last 8 years. I am in the process of moving into a position of leadership and am striving to gain information on the most effective method being a leader. I had hoped that this book would give me insight on what it takes to lead "geeks", but I found that the knowledge in the book was very superficial and did not give me any greater knowledge on what to do to assume my new position. I felt that McConnell's "Rapid Development" was much closer to hitting the mark when it comes to giving insight on "geekdom". My recommendation is to look for another book if you are looking to understand the mind of the technologist.
Rating:
Summary: Lack of Substance
Review: I feel that I have been a "geek" for the last 8 years. I am in the process of moving into a position of leadership and am striving to gain information on the most effective method being a leader. I had hoped that this book would give me insight on what it takes to lead "geeks", but I found that the knowledge in the book was very superficial and did not give me any greater knowledge on what to do to assume my new position. I felt that McConnell's "Rapid Development" was much closer to hitting the mark when it comes to giving insight on "geekdom". My recommendation is to look for another book if you are looking to understand the mind of the technologist.
Rating:
Summary: Lack of Substance
Review: I feel that I have been a "geek" for the last 8 years. I am in the process of moving into a position of leadership and am striving to gain information on the most effective method being a leader. I had hoped that this book would give me insight on what it takes to lead "geeks", but I found that the knowledge in the book was very superficial and did not give me any greater knowledge on what to do to assume my new position. I felt that McConnell's "Rapid Development" was much closer to hitting the mark when it comes to giving insight on "geekdom". My recommendation is to look for another book if you are looking to understand the mind of the technologist.
Rating: 
Summary: Still a general leadership book!
Review: I had great expectation toward this book when I bought it, but was greatly disappointed after reading. All the insights in this book could be found in many leadership books written for general management. I didn't see any real beef needed to manage those so called "geeks". Every company has both ordinary people and geeks, and this is where the real problem comes. A complex environment makes theory hard to apply.
Rating: 
Summary: Who would like to read "Leading Geeks"?
Review: I looked through this book and decided not to read it in depth. Who would like this book?
Someone who...
1.Likes using the label GEEKS to refer to anyone whose primary task is working with computers. In some work places such a label could be considered harassment since it is denigrating.
2.Likes classifying people using stereotypes. Are people still individuals? Not according to this book.
3.Likes reading a book where there is no theoretical justification given to the content (through references and citations), AND there are no concrete examples given for most of the content. What is the basis for these words of wisdom?
4.Feels that those who work with computers need to be managed any differently than anyone else. The author does advocate his version of modern management methods many of which are well documented elsewhere. Shouldn't one also use these with other employees?
5.Feels that those who work with computers MUST be different from everyone else. The author outlines how these individuals must be selected for employment - to match his stereotype.
6.Feels that computer workers should be kept insulated and isolated, particularly from customers. This is contrary to some other authors - e.g., Iain Aitken in "Value Driven IT Management." Some computer workers may want be isolated, but should they?
Rating:
Summary: Is Bigotry REALLY innovative management strategy?
Review: I would think the first and foremost principle of management would be that human beings are individuals, each with unique properties; and that to entice them into fulfilling your needs is a complex process with many variables. It seems the authors would have us believe that there are only two or three human beings, inhabiting 6 Billion bodies across the globe; that there's a set formula to deal with each hive-mind; that ingenuity and creativity are not required in a manager.There are, of course, characteristics that can be found in most IT professionals. I'd say it's even remotely possible that all MBAs share a pencil tick or two in common on the Myers-Briggs. But to lump all people who in any way interface with computers into one group, and label them with an insulting name, is indicative of a small-mindedness not at all appropriate to any kind of leadership. I don't believe any offense was meant, but the tone was extremely insulting. No matter how many times the authors protest that these are "intelligent and creative" people they're writing about, they're still making sweeping generalizations and advancing offensive stereotypes. These factors tend to overwhelm what useful advice may wait within.
Rating:
Summary: Look inside the mind of a Geek....
Review: If you've been thinking the Geeks you are leading are a special breed, you're right! Paul Allen takes us into the creative and complex mind of the men and women who are building the technologies of tomorrow. Find out how to motivate them (yes, they do have feelings) and how to make them respect and follow you. This book contains some keys to unlock their potential and support the Geek who is looking for a leader they can depend on. There's no "ambiguity" here....only great ideas! Read it, then practice the models. Your Geeks are gonna love ya for it!
Rating:
Summary: Packed with Knowledge!
Review: Management consultant Paul Glen's thorough discussion of geeks brings you brain-to-brain and eye-to-eye with high-tech, specialized knowledge workers. Don't blink: you need these people, so you need to know how to fit your management style to them. Glen describes their primary personality traits and attitudes: commitment to logic, interest in problem solving, independence and, to put it politely, occasionally under-developed social skills. The author, who doesn't seem to mind describing an entire subset of the labor force as if each worker in it had the same personality, explains what geeks need from a manager. You need to nurture motivation, provide internal facilitation, furnish external representation, and manage task, structural, and environmental ambiguity. We from getAbstract suggest this organized, authoritative guide to those who manage knowledge workers. If it's all geek to you, here's the codebook.
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